The swans had split into two fields today at Quad 3, but still numbered 15 Whoopers and 6 Mutes. Other birds of note were a Great Northern Diver north at sea, 40 Curlews, 145 Golden Plovers, 7 Tufted Ducks, one Little Egret, 2 Common Buzzards, one Sparrowhawk, one Kestrel, one Woodcock, 10 Chaffinches, one Brambling, one Goldcrest, one Blackbird, 3 Fieldfares and 2 Mistle Thrushes.

It was bitterly cold in the force 3-4 NNE wind and flurries of snow between Stonebridge and Pye's Hall. The best birds were 1,100 Brent Geese, 2 Mute Swans, 25 Teal, 5 Mallard, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 67 Grey Plovers, 28 Curlews, 74 Redshanks, 90 Dunlin, 20 Oystercatchers, 110 Lapwings, 6 Turnstones, 13 Rock Pipits, 52 Twite, 25 Goldfinches, 39 Starlings, 400 Wood Pigeons, one Song Thrush, one Mistle Thrush and at least 2 Common Buzzards.

In the afternoon twoWaxwings, were noted in flight over Cemetery Road heading towards Ark Road and the turkey farm.

Not much change between Stonebridge and Pye's Hall this morning. 1,100 Brent Geese, 8 Mallard, 52 Teal, 9 Shelducks, one Cormorant, 63 Redshanks, 119 Grey Plovers, 170 Knot, 70 Dunlin, 2 Curlews, one Lapwing, one Little Egret, one Little Grebe, 11 Rock Pipits, 25 Goldfinches, one Song Thrush, one Sparrowhawk and one Common Buzzard.

 It was certainly cold between Stonebridge and Pye's Hall this morning. Best were 52 Redshanks, 200 Golden Plovers, 130 Lapwings, 400 Knot, 12 Curlews, 980 Brent Geese, 7 pale-bellied Brent Geese, 38 Mallard, 2 Shelducks, 15 Teal, 4 Tufted Ducks, 2 Mute Swans, 2 Cormorants, 4 Little Grebes, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Rock Pipits, 3 Tree Sparrows, one Brambling, 2 Common Buzzards and a Peregrine.

 Extremely quiet at Quad 3 this morning.  One Little Egret, one Common Buzzard, one Sparrowhawk, 2 Woodcocks, 1,150 Wood Pigeons, 11 Stock Doves, 115 Teal, 12 Mallard, 5 Tufted Ducks, 3 Little Grebes, 3 Red-throated Divers, 44 Curlews, 85 Knot, 40 Bar-tailed Godwits, 10 Dunlin and 35 Sanderlings.

Stonebridge to Pye's Hall before the dense fog that came in this afternoon: 11 Whooper Swans, 2 Mute Swans, 47 Brent Geese, 40 Mallard, 60 Teal, 140 Lapwings, 200 Golden Plovers, 20 Grey Plovers, 165 Redshanks, 960 Knot, 44 Curlews, 200 Oystercatchers, 550 Dunlin, 64 Sanderlings, 15 Bar-tailed Godwits, 8 Cormorants, 4 Little Egrets, 8 Rock Pipits, 12 Skylarks, 20 Goldfinches, 7 Reed Buntings, 3 Yellowhammers, one Sparrowhawk and one Peregrine.

16.2.13

 A 2 hour seawatch in poor visibility produced:   830 Herring Gulls passed north, but nothing special amongst them. Also 17 Red-throated Divers, 18 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Guillemots, 59 Cormorants, 45 Common Scoters, 16 Shelducks, 85 Curlews, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, 140 Oystercatchers, 220 Dunlin, 100 Sanderlings, 2 Turnstones, 450 Knot and 3 Grey Plovers. On the landward side were 125 Teal, 16 Mallard, one Tufted Duck, one Wigeon, 4 Mute Swans, 2 Canada Geese, 5 Little Grebes, one Water Rail, 2 Common Snipe, 12 Reed Buntings, 9 Goldfinches and 20 Skylarks

  It was fairly uneventful at Quad 3 this morning. 155 Lapwings in 3 parties and 60 Golden Plovers moved NW. Also seen were 5 Little Egrets, 600 Wood Pigeons, 17 Stock Doves, 2 Collared Doves, 14 Mallard, 80 Teal, 3 Tufted Ducks, 3 Common Snipe, one Woodcock, one Barn Owl, 20 Skylarks, 5 Blackbirds, 2 Song Thrushes, one Robin, one Goldcrest, one Kestrel, one Common Buzzard, 3 Redshanks, 2 Oystercatchers, 43 Curlews, 2 Cormorants and 2 Red-throated Divers.

It was bitterly cold between Stonebridge and Pye's Hall this morning. 790 Brent Geese, 7 pale-bellied Brent Geese, 55 Shelducks, 43 Mallard, 145 Teal, 4 Tufted Ducks, Goldeneye, Pochard, 35 Curlews, 42 Redshanks, 520 Oystercatchers, 20 Bar-tailed Godwits, 235 Knot, Grey Plover, 60 Lapwings, Little Egret, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Kestrels, Sparrowhawk, 12 Rock Pipits, 10 Twite, Song Thrush, 2 Tree Sparrows and 6 Yellowhammers.

What a change in the weather! It was really cold, wet and miserable for the WeBS count between Stonebridge and Pye's Hall and I missed quite a bit with visibility being so poor. Results were 95 Knot, 78 Redshanks, 2 Common Snipe, 65 Lapwings, 93 Grey Plovers, 4 Oystercatchers, 4 Bar-tailed Godwits, 10 Curlews, 65 Dunlin, 750 dark-bellied Brent Geese, 7 pale-bellied Brent Geese, 62 Shelducks, 74 Teal, 48 Mallard, one Cormorant, one Little Grebe, 4 Rock Pipits, 20 Goldfinches, 8 Yellowhammers, one Song Thrush, 5 Blackbirds and one Sparrowhawk.

 A very pleasant day for birding. The WeBS count for Quad 3 saw the following:- 220 Knot, 9 Golden Plovers, 25 Curlews, 14 Sanderlings, 91 Bar-tailed Godwits, one Grey Plover, 2 Oystercatchers, 72 Dunlin, 11 Cormorants, 13 Great Crested Grebes, 25 Red-throated Divers, one Black-throated Diver, 150 Common Scoters, 2 Wigeon, 2 Shelducks, 6 Mallard, 27 Teal, one Long-tailed Duck, one Goldeneye, 6 Little Grebes, 120 Pink-footed Geese, 25 Goldfinches, 3 Robins, 900 Wood Pigeons and one Common Buzzard.

Highlights were 650 Lapwings, 60 Golden Plovers, 106 Grey Plovers, 80 Oystercatchers, 210 Redshanks, 500 Knot, 17 Curlews, one Bar-tailed Godwit, 260 Dunlin, 125 Brent Geese, 49 Shelducks, 21 Mallard, 34 Teal, one Little Grebe, one Little Egret, one Grey Heron, 2 Cormorants, 5 Rock Pipits, one Meadow Pipit, 25 Goldfinches,one Song Thrush and one Common Buzzard.

  The best birds were as follows:- 3 Greylag Geese, 460 dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 pale-bellied Brent Geese, 40 Shelducks, 62 Mallard, 130 Teal, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Red-throated Divers, 8 Cormorants, 2 Turnstones, 210 Lapwings, 220 Dunlin, 720 Knot, 190 Bar-tailed Godwits, 23 Curlews, 29 Redshanks, 820 Oystercatchers, 60 Grey Plovers, 3 Rock Pipits, 3 Little Egrets, Redwing, Fieldfare, 10 Long-tailed Tits, 700 Wood Pigeons, Merlin and 2 Kestrels.